Label-applying device



April 21, 1953 D. D. GREEN 2,635,235

LABEL-APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l g- ZSnnentor JDUKE 0. GREEN Gttomegi D. D- GREEN LABEL-APPLYING DEVICE April ZI, I953Filed May 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ZSnventor 0w: 0. Glass/y (IttornegsPatented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to power operated labelsecuring or staplingdevices adapted particularly for electromagnetic operation. So arrangeda stapling instrument is used for attaching labels, papers, tags, pricetickets, identification marks and so on to goods or other work passedwithin the label-applying device proper.

In the prior art some proposals have already been made for electricallyoperated or powerdriven label-applying units. Devices of this type areparticularly useful in the dry cleaning field, where many garments musthave labels applied thereto in order to identify ownership and therebyprevent confusion and loss subsequent to removal from the dry cleaningunit proper. It has been found difficult to attach labels rapidly byhand-operated units because handling delays so occasioned become vitaland delay frequently the operation of the cleaning establishment. At thesame time, in order to make certain that the labels, tags or otheridentifying marks are secure- 1y attached, it is desirable that theoperator hold the garments securely relative to the stapler,particularly to avoid damaging the goods being handled.

Power-operated stapling or fastening devices have heretofore beenproposed, but, o far as is known, have not proven satisfactory inpractice. In one form of unit there was attached to a stapling device anarm which was pivoted at one end to a support and attached at its otherend to the actuating knob of the stapling device. Intermediate the pointof pivotal support and the free end secured to the stapling device adrive mechanism in the form of an electromagnet which could be treadleoperated was arranged to draw the arm downwardly for operating thestapling unit.

It was found that a unit of such type would not satisfy the operatingcondition experienced in practice. Components had to be large to beconveniently usable. The expense of such units was considerable, and theoperating efficiency relatively low, disregarding the fact that the unitwas both cumbersome and expensive.

The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the priorart arrangement through the utilization of a structure of relativelysmall size which serves as the support for a staplingorfastener-applying unit. Within the support structure an electromagnet issuitably positioned for use in operating the stapling arrangement.Operation of the stapling unit itself is accomplished by linking thefree end of the depressible movable lever or operating arm of the normalstapler or fastener-applying device and the movable armature positionwithin the electromagnet. As linked in thi fashion a yoke memberconsisting of a unitary structure bent to provide the effect of a doubleyoke, or a structure which is of itself a double yoke, serves as theconnecting medium. The connection between the armature and the yoke ispreferably of a rather rigid character in that the armature is drawnabruptly within the magnet at times of magnet energization. With thisarmature motion the thereto-attached yoke moves a distance substantiallyaxially of the magnet at each step in the operation. The opposite end ofthe yoke member may then be actuatingly engaged or united with the freeend and actuating knob ol the movable lever from which the fasteners orstaples are discharged so as to cause this movable lever element toclose upon a suitable garment support platform and thereby discharge thestaples or other fastening elements used to secure the label and thelike. The end of the yoke arranged to actuate the hinged depressiblelever may then be removably or releasably secured to the free end ofthis depressible lever element. In one form of arrangement the yokeserving to actuate the lever element is arranged in such a way that upondownward motion thereof, for instance, it may rest over the free end ofthe depressible lever and fractionally move the lever downward. Inanother form of arrangement the yoke may consist of a multiplicity ofparts and the end thereof remote from the armature may attach pivotallyto a pin rigidly secured to the free end of the depressible leverelement of the fastener-applying unit. So arranged, actuation of thefastener-applying unit may be provided by closing through the use of atreadle switch or an equivalent of an electrical circuit to energize themagnet and thereby operate the fastem'ng unit.

With the foregoing thoughts in mind the invention has as one of its mainobjects that of providing a power-driven device for releasing staples orother fastening elements at times selected by the operator of thedevice.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a stapling orfastening device for applying labels, tags and the like in which thestapling unit is arranged to be electrically operated and in which theunit itself is contained in a readily portable light-weight, compact andefficientlyoperated housing unit which can be manufactured and sold in alow price bracket.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and claims when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of one form of yoke memberfor actuating a stapling or label-applying device not there shown;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, to show one form of yokeactuating magnet mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the structure of Fig. 2,looking from the right of Fig. 2 toward the magnet assembly;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the magnet arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3 withthe armature removed but showing the switch-operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the arrangement of 3 Fig. 2 showing adifferent form of yoke mechanism for actuating the stapler or fasteningdevice;

Fig. 6 is a view of the general type of Fig. 3 but showing a mechanismfor securing the yoke member of Fig. 5 to the stapling or fastening unit'in a manner somewhat like the securement of the free ends of thge yokesof Figs. 2, 3 and 5 to the magnet armature; and

Fig. '7 is a view in section to illustrate, generally schematically, themanner in which staples may be driven outwardly from the staplingdevice.

Considering now the drawing for a further understanding of theinvention, a support base ii is arranged to carry any suitable form ofstaplingor fastener-applying device, conventionally represented at l3.The staple-applying device usually comprises a platform l5 which may bedetachably secured to the support base i l in any desired fashion suchas by the screws 56. At one end of the platform [5 and supported usuallyfrom a pivot I! is a movable depressible driver lever i9 which isnormally so supported by a spring-like member (not shown) surroundingthe pivotal hinge I! as to remain in ppened position at its free endrelative t the platform !5.

It is unnecessary to enter into a lenthy. description herein of thefastener-applying or stapling unit, other than to point out that thedepressible lever arm l9 functions as an operating arm and dischargesstaples from the magazine and therewith associated driver element 78against the clinching anvil 23 at times when the depressible driverlever is is rotated about the pivot H in a clockwise direction from theposition shown by Fig. 2. This acts to move the depressible driver leverl9 in the direction shown by arrow on Fig. 3.

As can be seen from the showing made schematically in Fig. 7, theso-called gate portion 2i of the stapling device is so arranged that thestapledriver i8 is adapted to move inside thereof. In referring to Fig.7 the hollow stapling arm M constitutes generally a magazine to hold thestaples 15. These staples surround or are laid over a core '16 andpressed forward toward the staple driver element 18 under the influenceof a staple feeding spring #9, which, preferably, moves within a channelmember (not shown) and is adapted to force the staple pusher (also notshown) in a direction such that the staples move in the direction of thegate 2!. In the usual form of stapler the spring 19 moves over a rollerpulley 8i] and one end thereof is anchored generally at the rear of thedepressible driver lever l9. At the forward end of the channel memberwhich holds the staples there is located a check-pawl or dog 8i, whichhas several functions in connection with the stapling operation. Thisdog is pivoted on a transverse pin 82 and has a rear head 83 which isformed with a depending beak, as indicated. The beak engagesbetween theheads of the staples straddling the staple-holding core 76. At itsopposite end the dog Si has a projecting tail 85, from which there is adepending leg portion. The tail 85 extends through a vertical slot (notshown) in the staple driver it, so that with depression of thedepressible driver lever ii). the staple driver 18 forces the staplesdownwardly behind the gate 2!. The dog BI is held by a substantiallyhairpin-shaped spring 85, which forms a toggle spring and is normallyadapted to hold the dog 8! in a suitable operating position. Furtherdetails of the general form of stapling arrangement may be had byreferring to the disclosure of an illustrative form of staplingmechanism depicted by United States Letters Patent No. 2,037,334,granted April 14, 1936, to Arthur H. Maynard.

The supporting base ll forms the upper part of a housing, represented at25, in which an electromagnet 2? is appropriately housed. Any convenientmethod of securing the magnet within the housing, such as the bent pins29, may be provided. The magnet has the armature 3|, to which anappropriate pin-like element 33 is fastened at its upper end. Thispin-like element 33 extends through the armature and terminates in twoflattened extensions 35, through which the rods 3! and 38, representingeither end of a yoke member 39, extend. The yoke member is held in anydesired position by means of any appropriate form of clamping element.

Energization of the electromagnet is effected by various means, such asthe treadle-controlled switch il, schematically represented by Fig. 4,of which the leads 43 connect to the electromagnet 2i and the leads d5lead to any suitable source of power supply plug. When the armature Siis drawn within the magnet 21 by reason of energizaticn of the latter,the pin 33 and the therewith-associated yoke member 39 are moveddownwardly within the slot 41 formed at either side of the housingmember 25.

As is indicated by Fig. 2 particularly, the yoke member 39 is formed inan upright portion for attachment to the ends 35 of the pin 33, andafter protruding upwardly, as shown particularly by Figs. 2 and 3, in adirection to surround substantially the stapling or fastening unit l3these arms are curved inwardly so as to join and form substantially intoa loop-shaped section 5! surrounding the actuating knob or head 53 ofthe stapler unit. In this form it is usually unnecessary rigidly toconnect the loop section 5! of the yoke 39 to the actuating knob. Itmerely may be actuatingly united or engaged with this knob so that uponactuation of the magnet to draw the armature therein the loop 5| of theyoke will press downwardly upon the knob 53 to cause the staple to beejected each time the magazine and driver element is pressed against theclinching anvil. Accordingly, if any work is placed between the anvilsection 23 and the lower portion of the gate 2! behind which the stapledriver element 78 moves to force staples from the magazine with adownward movement of the depressible driver lever l9, it will beapparent that labels, tags or the like may be attached by reason of theoperation of the stapling unit. The yoke member 3? may be formed fromheavy material substantially rigid and capable of moving the depressiblelever downwardly upon magnet energizationl For purposes ofstrengthening, however, it frequently becomes desirable toprovideadditional bracing arms, such as shown at 55.

In another modification of the invention, as illustrated particularly byFigs. 5 and 6, the stapling unit of the type shown and described inconnection with Fig. 2 is again provided to rest upon the supportsurface 59 of a housing 6|. In this instance the magnet unit 2? iscontained inthe housing, preferably substantially immediately below thestapling unit section, whereat the staple driver element 1% operating insuch a way as to be guided behind the gate 2! meets the clinching anvilsection 23. With this construction there is attached to the upper-end.of

the armature 3| by means of a pin section terminating in a flattenedextension 35, substantially like that shown in Fig. 3, a two-part yokemember 63 of substantially U-shaped configuration. The end 65 of eachyoke member 83 is secured by appropriate screws or rivets to the pinfastened to the upper end of the armature 3|. The yoke members 63 may bemade exceedingly strong and yet light in weight by constructing them ofsteel, iron or the like, which may be readily cast and yet provideextreme strength and rigidity. The upper end 61 of the yoke 63 isprovided, in this instance, with apertures 69 through which a pin Il maybe passed and fastened by any appropriate means, such 2;"

as the indicated cotter pins. The pin "ll then is rigidly attached andsecured to the operating knob 53 of the depressible hinged driver lever19 by a bracket 12 or other equivalent means. With the openings 69forming bearing surfaces for the pin ll it is clear that the depressiblehinged driver lever l9 readily may be closed on the anvil section 23 toprovide the stapling action upon magnet actuation. The upper part of thehousing 6| is provided with two elongated openings or slotssubstantially adjacent the stapling unit to provide space within whichthe U-shaped yoke members may be passed. Depending upon the selectedshaping of the yoke member 63 will depend the length of the slot section13 to pro- ,2,

vide for adequate up-and-down motion of the yoke member withoutcontacting the sidewalls or support surface of the housing.

Having set forth the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A label-securing device comprising a support base, a stapling unithaving a magazine, a driver for driving staples from the magazine, aclinching anvil and a movable depressible driver lever hinged at one endto operate the driver for actuating it to apply staples from themagazine to work adapted to be positioned between the magazine and theclinching anvil at times of lever depression, an electromagnet supportedbeneath the stapling unit, an armature for the magnet and a yoke havingone end secured to the armature and the other end actuatingly engagedwith the unhinged end of the hinged depressible driver lever so thatupon magnet energization the hinged driver lever will be depressed tooperate the driver.

2. A labe1-securing device comprising a support base, a stapling unithaving staple-driving means and a movable depressible driver leverhinged at one end to actuate the staple-driving means upon leverdepression, an electromagnet supported beneath the stapling unit, amagnet armature extending outwardly from the electromagnet, a pinsecured to the end of the armature remote from the electromagnet; alever actuating yoke attached to each end of the pin and alsoactuatingly engaged with the free end of the hinged depressible driverlever so that upon magnet energization the hinged lever is depressedtoward the base member and staples are ejected to be applied to thework.

3. A label-securing device comprising a support base, a stapling unithaving a base member and a hinged driver lever arm secured at one end ofthe base member and arranged to eject staples from the free end thereofupon depression; an electromagnet supported substantially beneath thestapling unit support base; an armature for the magnet and connectionsfrom the free end of the depressible driver lever of the stapling unitto the armature for drawing the pivoted depressible driver lever towardthe support base so that the staples are elected to be applied to thework upon magnet energization.

4. A label-securing device comprising a support base, afastener-applying implement provided with a platform detachably mountedon the support base, said implement having a pivoted lever arm securedat one end to the platform and having at its other end astapler-ejecting mechanism, a pin attached to the free end of the lever,an electromagnet positioned beneath the pivoted lever, an armaturecarried within the electromagnet and adapted upon magnet energization tobe drawn within said electromagnet, and connecting links between eachend of the lever supported pin and the armature for moving the free endof the depressible lever into substantial parallelism with the platformand support base upon magnet energization so as to actuate thestaple-ejecting mechanism substantially concurrently with operation ofthe lever element.

5. A label-securing device comprising a support base, afastener-applying implement detachably mounted on the support base, saidimplement having a platform and a lever arm pivotally secured at one endto the platform, a stapler-ejecting mechanism located at the free end ofthe pivoted lever, a pin secured to the free end of the lever, anelectromagnet positioned beneath the pivoted lever arm, an armaturecarried within the magnet and adapted upon magnet energization to bedrawn within the magnet and connecting links between each end of thelever arm supported pin and the armature for moving the free end of thedepressible driver lever arm into substantial parallelism with theplatform and base member upon magnet energization so as to actuate thestaple-ejecting mechanism in conjunction with an operation of thedepressible lever arm, and a manually operated switch element to controlthe periods of energization of the electromagnet.

6. A label-securing unit comprising a support base having includedtherein an electromagnet and an armature supported within the field ofthe magnet and adapted upon magnet energization to be drawn within themagnet, a fastenerapplying implement releasably secured to the supportbase and comprising a platform and a depressible driver lever armpivotally secured to the platform at one end and normally raised abovethe platform at the free end and having a staple-ejecting mechanism atthe free end for applying staples to the work upon closure of the leverarm against the platform, said support base having a slotted portionadjacent each side of the platform and extending for a portion of thelength of the platform, and a yoke member extending through each slotand having one end of each yoke secured to the magnet armature and meansto attach the other end of each yoke to the free end of the depressibledriver lever so that upon magnet energization the armature is drawnwithin the magnet and the therebycarried yoke members produce a closureof the free end of the depressible driver lever upon the platform.

Name Date Maynard Apr. 14, 1936 Number

